Gapped gear.



W. T. SEARS.

GAPPED GEAR. APPLICATION FILED JULY 21, 1910.

Patented NOV. 15, 1910.

WILLARD '1. SEARS, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO NILES-BEMENT-POND COMPANY, OF JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY.

GAPPED GEAR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 15, 1910.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, VVILLARD T. SEARS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Philadelphia, Philadelphia county, Pennsylvania, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Gapped Gears, of whichthe following is a specification.

This invention pertains to improvements in gears having radial gapsleading from circumference to center to perm t the passing of the shaftor axle radially into the gear. Such gears are used on certain types ofcar wheel lathes employed in turning car wheels while they are upontheir axles.

The present invention relates to an im proved system for placing anddisplacing the patch employed in completing the rim of the gear at thegap, and the invention will be readily understood from the followingdescription taken in connection with the accompanying drawing which is aface view of a gapped gear exemplifying my present invention.

In the drawing :1, indicates the toothed rim of the gear; 2, the gearhub; 3, the web of the gear or its equivalent arms if the gear be ofarmed instead of webbed type; 4, the gap, leading radially from thecircumference to the center of the gear; 5, the patch adapted, when'inplace, to fill the gap at the rim and complete the toothed rim; 6,tail-bars extending from one end of the gap and straddling the rim atone side of the gap and fitted to the rim, so that the patch is hingedto the rim, in a not unusual manner; 7, a segmental arm reachinginwardly from the patch and inwardly beyond the gap in the rim; 8, abearing to give support to the segmental arm at a point within the rim;9, worm-teeth formed on the segmental arm; 10, a rotary motor,preferably electric, mounted on the gear; 11, the motor shaft; 12, aworm having threads engaging the teeth of the segmental arm; 18, abearing for the worm shaft, disposed in line with the motor shaft; 14, aclutch coupling the worm-shaft and the motor shaft; and 15, typifyingconnectors through which current may be carried to the motor.

In the drawing the patch is out of the gap, leaving the gap open, and itis locked in open position by the engagement of the worm with thesegmental arms current being applied to the motor, through connectors15, causes the motor to turn in the proper direction, the rotation ofthe worm causes the patch to be drawn home into the gap in the rim, inan obvious manner, and when the patch is clear home the slipping offrictioncoupling 14 avoids the necessity for the instant stoppage of themotor.

When the gap is to be opened, then current is to be applied to the motorto turn the motor in reverse direction, whereupon the patch is forcedout of the gap and supported as before, the friction-coupling slippingif necessary.

In the use of gapped gears in car wheel lathes, the gap requires to beopened and closed only when the gap is in one certain position,generally the position indicated in the drawing, and under suchcircumstances the connectors 15 for the current will occupy a definiteposition when the gap is to be opened or closed, thus avoiding thenecessity for electrical connections to operate the motor when the gearis in varying angular positions.

I claim:

1. A gapped gear comprising, a gear-body having a gap extending throughits rim and inwardly therefrom, a displaceable patch completing the rimat the gap, a motor carried by the gear, and transmitting connectionsbetween the motor and the patch to cause the motor to move the patchinto and out of the gap in the rim, combined substantially as set forth.

A gapped gear comprising, a gear-body having a gap extending through itsrim and inwardly therefrom, a displaceable patch hinged to andcompleting the rim at the gap, a motor carried by the gear, andtransmitting connections between the motor and the patch to cause themotor to move the patch into and out of the gap in the rim, combinedsubstantially as set forth.

3. A gapped gear comprising, a gear-body having a gap extending throughits rim and inwardly therefrom, a displaceable patch completing the rimat the gap, a rotary motor carried by the gear, and transmittingconnections between the motor and the patch to cause the motor to movethe patch into and out of the gap in the rim, combined substantially asset forth.

4. A gapped gear comprising, a gear-body having a gap extending throughits rim and inwardly therefrom, a displaceable patch completing the rimat the gap, an electric motor carried by the gear, and transmittingconnections between the motor and the patch to cause the motor to movethe patch into and out of the gap in the rim, combined substantially asset forth.

5. A gapped gear comprising, a gear-body having a gap extending throughits rim and inwardly therefrom, a displaceable patch completing the rimat the gap, a motor carried by the gear, transmitting connectionsbetween the motor and the patch to cause the motor to move the patchinto and out of the gap in the rim, and a friction coupling included insaid transmitting connections, combined substantially as set forth.

6. A gapped gear comprising, a gear-body having a gap extending throughits rim and inwardly therefrom, a patch hinged to and completing the rimat the gap, a rotary motor carried by the gear, a Worm connected withthe motor shaft, and a toothed segmental arm projecting inwardly fromthe patch and engaging the worm, combined substantially as set forth.

' 7 A gapped gear comprising, a gear-body having a gap extending throughits rim and inwardly therefrom, a patch hinged to and completing the rimat the gap, a rotary motor carried by the gear, a worm connected withthe motor shaft, a toothed segmental arm projecting inwardly from thepatch and engaging the worm, and a friction-coupling interposed betweenthe motor and the worm, combined substantially as set forth.

8. A gapped gear comprising, a gear-body having a gap extending throughits rim and inwardly therefrom, a displaceable patch permanentlysupported by the gear and completing the rim at the gap, and wormmechanism carried by the gear and connected with the patch to move thepatch into and out of the gap in the rim and to lock the patch in openor closed position, combined substantially as set forth.

WILLARD T. SEARS.

\Vitnesses LU'JIE HALE, GEo. JoHNsoN.

